The Necromancer's Pact VII: Lake of Tears II

[Spaz]

Yix

Yix helps himself to the back of Achkby's pony, casually glancing around as the forest passes him by.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

After his outburst in the inn, Lumpy keeps more or less silent. He rides ahead restlessly, maintaining a general aura of unnapproachability in attempt to deter attempts at conversation. The resulting effect was something between brooding and sulking, but the big orc proves to be exceedingly good at generating the impression that he wishes to be left alone.

When camp is set up each night, he acts similarily, staking out a position secluded from the others whenever possible. Responses and input on matters such as keeping watch are kept to one word when possible, and his predilection for uttering a brusque "Fine." towards an given query becomes a fact rather than a possibility.

On the other hand, he seems almost driven to prove himself through action when words have failed him. He seems almost constantly on edge, whether on the road or in camp, waiting for that ineveitable ambush or problem to arise. Oftentimes, he neglects his own sleep to set watches of his own, peering into the darkness with focused intent.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel tries to enjoy the ride north. But between the biting cold and the unrest between some of her companions, being cheerful becomes a full time job. She notices Lumpy skulking and can't help feel partly responsible, yet any attempt at conversation is cut short with his gruff responses. After the second day she gives up and resolves to try again later.
She keeps herself busy by alternately watching the caravans and talking to anyone who will carry on a conversation. The realization that the group is held together more by a common goal than any other type of bond keeps resurfacing in her thoughts. But, try as she might, she doesn't have any idea on how to draw the group closer together.

There are definite bonds between groups. Si'rene, Katrine and her are one example. Trinark and the lizardman, another. And then there's the odd ones that don't seem to have any strong bonds with the others.

By the fifth day or so, Tiriel decides to try and talk to Lumpy again. She nods to her friends and nudges her horse to a quicker walk so she can pull abreast to Lumpy's mount.
She rides quietly for a few minutes, then decides to go ahead and start.
"So, uh, ....Well, I've been meaning to ask you something Lumpy, do you know who's idea was it to go talk to this King? I got the feeling that someone must have said something earlier that I missed."

[Dark_Stalion]

Evendur

Evendur occasionaly tries to make conversation with Tiriel, though his heart doesn't appear to be in it. Mostly he makes observations on their surroundings and the weather. He doesn't try to find anything out about her, seeming to avoid it like a poisoned snake. Similarly he avoids mentioning anything about his own history. Very soon after making some atempt at conversation he gives up, returning with a slight bow from the back of his steed to his deferential position.

Evendur takes his personal share of camping and guard duties wordlessly, very subdubed compared to the initial impresion he may have given.

Only once does Evendur break his apparent vow of silence. On the third day out he aproaches the Lizardkin as camp is being set and attempts to explain something to him, but the Lizardman's staunch refusal to accept his existence quickly batters him down. Expresionless he sets about his own camping arangements and takes first watch.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy listens to Tiriel's latest attempt at conversation dispassionately. She was persistant, which he wasn't sure bothered him or not. For a moment, he considered brushing her off again, but he suspected she'd just come back later anyway. Eventually, he shrugs, not really bothering to look back at her as he responds.

"The Iron Lord's apparently some Northern King here. Rashemi, I reckon. The idea ta head this way was also a Rashemi's, one'a the escorts fer the witch whose mask Sethra handed ta ya."

He glances at Tiriel briefly before continuing,

"She went ta confirm that Sethra'd taken the girl's body after we 'killed' him, and now she's quite thouroughly dead, along with a roomful'a her berzerker pals, of which only the one pulled through. The prevailing thought is that the necromancer's raising an army and recruiting.. what was it.. Tanarri allies or something, and that it'll take a right army ta fight back against it, one this king can supposedly field."

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel mulls over the information.
"So, no one in our group has any direct connection to the Iron Lord?
I don't really have any experince with this kind of thing, but isn't it going be hard to get an audience with him?"


Ooc: Lumpy and Tiriel aren't having a private talk, anyone can join in if they so wish.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

The grizzled half-orc lets another habitual shrug roll off his shoulders,

"Direct? Not really, though the halfling was apparently under the employ'a one'a his agents. Not that that'll get us anywhere, really."

He snorts softly, with a hint of derision,

"And as has been made abundantly clear, I got no place in courts or politics. Best I can reckon, getting an audience'd be easier than I think. Just start waving the witch's mask around. 'Course, we might pick up some fetters along the way. A favorable meeting'd be harder."

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

The druid skulked within the tent for the duration of the journey. The weather getting colder did little to improve matters. He'd even growled a little at Trinark from being cooped up.

The news from Elthan played apart in his moroseness although he didn't tell Trinark that. What would be the point of worrying his dear companion?

Ssathiya hadn't been a fool. His lack of understanding of the arcane art did not cripple his own common sense and instinct. There would be limits. He knew that. But hope had lingered.

He had not let his shoulders slump until Elthan had turned and walked off. Seeing the earnest regret on his face, the lizardkin did not tell him that a reply was overdue and that more time only increased the uncertainty over what the situation was, back home in the Vilhon Reach.


He was out of his tent again, wrapped in his winter wear and hide. Spying Lumpy and Tiriel sitting some distance in front of him, he allowed his gaze to drift. The caravaneers had retired for the night and it availed him some time.

Walking silently, he cuts a path to a more secluded place in a nearby wood. His objective was to find a foci like a cairn or dolmen even a tree of sufficient age and presence and attempt to commune with the spirits.

Semuanya may be silent but the Balance still speaks to me

With his mind in three places, Sheyra, his Tribe and the journey north, he wends his way unaware of watchful eyes on a dark face gazing out of a tent flap at him.


Starry night and shrinking moon

He notes to himself.

Yes... the phase is right

He turns to check that no one is following him before disappearing into the night.

[Dr._Bob]

Si'rene stalks over bundled in her winter furs, listens quietly, then nods at Lumpy's summary of the situation.

She sketches some lines in the snow with the tip of her longbow ...

"It looks like we will arrive in Tammar tommorow. A crossroads.

"We could continue along the main road northeast to Two Stars, then across the River Mulsantir. At that point, the road will cut east toward the Endless Wastes and Kara-Tur beyond. We would presumably leave the main road and head north into Rashemen. This is apparently the route that was suggested to you by the hathran's berserker.

"Alternatively, we could head directly north from Tammar, taking the Cold Road. We would have to find some way to cross Lake Ashane, but it might get us to Rashemen more quickly."

She looks at Lumpy as if it is his decision which path the party should take.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy studies the elf's sketch through squinted eyes for a moment,

"We know anything about the lake? How hard it is ta get passage across, whether the weather'll permit it and the like? I gather it's something of a long shot by yer tone, and it'd hurt us a lot ta have ta backtrack if the long ways a surer bet."

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos DeTerran

If the thin necromancer even noticed that Fizahn had been distancing himself from him, Callos either didn't show it or he simply didn't care. Rubbing his eyes and yawning often as he stares at what is to come. Strange images kept on dancing in front of his eyes and he appeared thoughtful. His dreams as of late had become even more vivid then ever but the content hadn't changed at all, was it a sign of something to come?

This getting too odd...can't even get a decent night of sleep anymore without nightmares...or even...I need something to focus one..something to draw my mind away from all this..won't be fighting Sethra forever after all..need to plan for an after plan..if there is an after..

Once more the parchment, quill, and ink came out of his pack and Callos wetted it with his tongue. What did he know about? On what was he enough of an authority to publish a treatsi on to the magical community? It took him awhile, discarding idea after idea, taking up most of the day until he seemed to settle on something. Finally giving a glance up at the front of the carriage to Elthan and Fizahn, Callos began to scratch his quill across the parchment. Soon, written gracefully across the top of the first sheet was titled...

Negative Energy and How it Affects the Mortal Mind and Soul

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

Thokk says and does little of huge importance on the trip. He makes sure a fire is going at night for his scaley brother, and works at night to work bites of hide into his armor. He glaces up during the conversations of what to do in the morrow, but simply shurgs and goes back. As he sees the lizardmad about to depart, he calls to him quickly

"Ach, scaley, are ye heading into the cold wood? Hang on one second"

*Thokk busies himself about the fire for a second, and then hands Ss a steaming mug of hot cider, evidently from the inn.*

"Here lad, drink this. I know yer not a fan of the cold, this might help a tad"

*After he departs Thokk once more spends time working on his Hydra hide, accepting help from any who wish to give it*

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

She leaves the choice of deciding which route to take to Si'rene and Lumpy. She feels confident that they will come to a good decision and that she has very little she can contribute. She wanders around, stopping when she sees Thokk fiddling with the hydra hide. She watches him for a moment before approaching him.
"Thokk, right? We really haven't talked much." She sits down nearby. "Out of curiosity, what do you plan to do with the skin?"

[Dr._Bob]

Thokk drapes the hydraskin this way and that, preening like an adolescent girl. "How does this look?" he asks coyly. Tiriel almost laughs aloud.

Si'rene frowns. "A deepwinter passage across the Lake might be difficult, if it is even possible. I suppose it would be safer to cross the Mulsantir and take the overland passage."

A light mist obscures the view ahead, but soon you can make out the dark walls of Tammar looming overhead. Its mighty gates are sealed, and it looks like almost the entire town is manning the battlements above. They are carrying improvised weapons and hunting bows, looking decidedly unfriendly.

The caravans pile up outside, spilling off the road in confusion. With the hundreds of travelers and scores of wagons milling about outside the walls, it almost looks like a siege.

The caravaners below and the armed townsfolk above exchange shouts and curses. By the time your party is able to work its way forward through the other caravans, it seems clear that the town wants the caravans to turn back or clear out.

An old man-at-arms, clad in ancient but still functional armor calls down from the ramparts suspiciously, "Be ye men, dark elves, or demons? What news have ye of the west?"

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

"As of now lass, Im not 100% sure. I've always taken little knick knacks from foes, and I actually can use most of them. This skin is strong, I'm figuring I can partially mend some joints in me armor, the rest is going into a cape or cloak. It will keep me warm, and I think it looks rather impressive. You know anything of leatherworking lass?"

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy considers Sirene's words for a moment. Decisions were easy to make in a practical sense, but hard to make effectively. His tone is thoughtful, contrasting his previously sullen state,

"That's a rough one. I've gambled and lost enough times before ta appreciate the reliable route. I'd be inclined ta go 'round, if it were up ta me. Mebbe we can get a second opinion before time comes ta choose."

Any serenity on his part is swiftly shattered by the traffic jam. Irritation creeps across his face like a spreading blight as they work their way forward through the crowd, breaking out into a full-fledged scowl as he lays eyes on the mass manning the walls. He was right tired of being met by resistance everywhere he went. Whether it was monsters or men, all of Faerun seemed bent upon making this journey as hard as it could possibly. As if traveling north through the dead of deepwinter weren't hard enough.

Part of him intended to keep things civil, to avoid singling himself out for the ire of the impromptu militia. Truly, it did. It just didn't want it hard enough,

"Demons? Only honest folk who seek travel along a major tradeway. Is hospitality such a callous thing here that travelers and businessfolk are met at major crossing points with strung bows and readied spears?"

Hardeyed, the burly orc urges his horse forward, trotting closer to the walls to meet the elder warrior's gaze with one of his own.

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn mostly keeps to himself for the ride towards the city. He doesn't do any talking and actively avoids Callos. There's something not right about him right now. With any luck, he'll get better soon. He appears greatly annoyed with the closed gate. He hops off the cart and follows Lumpy to address the town guardians. I don't know what they're playing at, but we're obviously not an army. Foolish humans. "Has it not yet become apparent to you that we're not an army? Most people out here are trading caravans. Let them in so they can stimulate your economy and whatnot." Fizahn turns to look at Lumpy and begins speaking in a voice that can't be heard on the walls. "Honestly, I have no clue what's wrong with humans. Their heads just don't work right. At least you've got some orcish blood in you to redeem yourself." Isn't it odd that both humans and orcs are terrible species, but when you combine them, you get one of the most well-rooted and tactically sound beings. I guess Lumpy's just special.

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

Achkby contents himself to chatting idly with Lissa nd Yix as they travel. It leaves him more at ease than he has been for a long time.

The whole group seems to be more at peace after that long rest. And after Kiah and Nyssa left us. I only wish Delphinia had stayed... and Nolan. I never really got to talk to either of them. But who am I kidding, would I really have talked to them if they had stayed? Well, maybe.

Best let it rest. I have friends here.

[hr]
When they arrive at the seething mash of travelers, Achkby keeps his annoyance to himself.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

"Actually, yes." She replies to Thokk. She takes a moment to bring her horse over to where they'd been sitting. After a moment of digging in her pack, she finds what she'd been looking for, a canvas roll full of bulging tools. She holds it up grinning, "I actually spent some time learning how to make armor from my uncle awhile back. I should tell you though, it's been a few years since I've worked on anything."

She looks around,
"uh-oh, looks like we're moving out." She mounts her horse and rides next to Thokk eager to talk "shop" while they approach the gate. "What do ya'think they're worried about? We haven't seen anything exciting since the werewolfs and that wasn't to the west."

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

The quill continued to scratch across the parchment until he felt the wagon come to a halt. And still it continued for a few moments before he looked up to see what the problem was.

Oh. Looks like we arrived....Demons or dark elves? He must be blind or stupid. Maybe both. We so do not have time to indulge this idiot.

Standing up from where he had been sitting for an uncomfortably long time and stretching idley, the necromancer went to the front of the cart and looked to the guard. How best to handle a situation like this...

"We bring important news from the west buts for the ears of someone higher up the food chain then you, and for them alone. Can we go in now? It's cold and unpleasent out here."

I think that would come out well...wait did I say that out loud?

[Dr._Bob]

Thokk and Tiriel get a chance to discuss trimming his armor with the hydrahide. There should be enough skin left over for a nice decorative cape, though it might not provide much warmth. Before they can get much beyond the planning stage however, they find themselves at the gates of Tammar.

Lumpy, Fizahn, and Callos add their voices to the clamoring from the caravans. The old man-at-arms waves his hands, "Settle down, settle down!"

His gaze sweeps over the assembled host below. "How can we be sure you are whom you appear to be?" His gaze meets Lumpy's briefly, then Callos'.

"I ask again, what news from the west?" His tone suggests that he is testing you.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

Lumpy's irritation doesn't fade in the slightest,

"WEll, assuming yer vaguely defined 'west' is referring ta what's going on across the Inner Sea, and not some point ten miles west'a here... Myth Drannor's been sacked, if ya beleive the rumor mill. Ain't rightly been that way myself fer a few years, but that's the big news going 'round."

[Phasm]

Lissa

Lissa spends most of the journey chitchatting with Achkby and various others, practicing spells (she apparently can cast a few illusion-type spells, unusual for a cleric), and just thinking. Each sunset finds her praying to her deity.

Upon reaching the gates of Tammar, Lissa breathes a sigh of relief and pats her hard-working riding dog. "Not too much longer now, boy." Oh, evidently she spoke too soon. The locals don't seem very friendly. Rolling her eyes, Lissa raises her voice. "If you're that paranoid about fiends, get a cleric or paladin out here to detect evil." She absently snaps an icicle off the end of her braid and tosses it to the ground. "News, eh? Besides the fact that it's freezing cold and been that way for far too frelling long. Well, there was a pair of cryohydras troubling a local lord; they're crowbait and tanned hide, now." Lissa points to Thokk's prized hydra hide, glistening white in the sun. "Trouble with undead, or there will be soon. Big trouble. That's why we're here, actually. Got a message from one of your masked priestesses. Gonna let us in now or what? We're freezing our bums off out here."




OOC: Simul-ninja'd! Umm... I guess Lissa is adding on to what Lumpy said.

[Zeal]

Hajih

Hajih holds the old grey wolf by the scruff of the neck. The wild canine seems to be attempting to leap at and attack the man-at-arms.

"No, wolf, no biting, it doesn't help our position as 'not evil' if you savage their ankles"

The wolf settles down and Hajih lets it go. It paces a bit before settling down and growling at the old man.

[Spaz]

Yix

As they group tries to convince the old man to let them in, he decides to do something constructive. he slowly works his wings to get the creaks out of the joints, then because to fly around from riding animal to riding animal.

[Dark_Stalion]

Evendur

Don't know weather I should do this, but these people are impatient, and I fear what they may do if pushed further than I've seen them. Hight not even work, but i's worth a try, if only to calm the poor unsuspecting merchants.

Evendur strides to a rocky outcrop or similar point which would give him both a height advantage and promenance among the crowd, or, failing that, the back of a cart. There he mutters a word of command and he is surrounded by a swirl of smoke which, when it clears, reveals Evendur clad, not as a humble traveler, but in fine shining armor, golden patterns twisting arround it's torso and down the limbs almost like cascading hair or water. It radiates a clean, warm light, brighter than the weak wintery sun, illuminating the ground and those arround him. Steel clad hands rise in greeting to the ramparts. His voice rings clearly across the distance.

"Hail sir, and well met. I am Evendur Dunhelder, a Paladin in the service of our gracious gods. I would ask who or what you prepare for war against, as I do not believe that merchants usualy cause this kind of reception here."

Evendur gazes steadily at the crenelated tops, waiting for an answer.

[kuja.girl]

- ooc: bump to Phasm -
- we're not at the Rashemen's place yet... this is only a pit stop. Yay. -

Tiriel

Tiriel sits and watches the exchanges between her group and the surly guard. Obviously adding anything at this point wasn't going to help, doing something might though... Oh wait, Evendur just did...

As she mulls over various ideas, she remembers something the guard said, "Be ye men, dark elves, or demons?" Wait a second... what did he mean by that? Well it doesn't really seem like he cares, but I'd better go make sure that we don't botch this right away....

Tiriel nudges her pony over to the cart that Trinark and the lizardman have erected their shelter. She pauses a moment, not sure how to proceed, before shrugging and knocking on the wood of the wagon before sticking her head in.
"Umm, so we're trying to get into this city for the night and they're all really worried about something so it'd probably be best if you two stayed under here for now. Hopefully we can get this worked out, but it's not looking good right now."

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

"Pssst! Yix!" hisses Achkby, "They're worried about demons and dark elves! Don't advertise yourself if you can help it."

[Spaz]

Yix

Yix stops makes his way back to Achkby's pony and ends his flight. He looks up at Achkby "I'm too cute to be a demon."

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

"Very true," Achkby says seriously, "But only from up close."